Fusarium as a promising fungal genus with potential application in bioremediation for pollutants mitigation: A review

Abstract

Fusarium is genetically diverse and widely distributed geographically. It is one of the genera with more endophytes (which cause no damage to the host plants). This review highlights the capability of Fusarium species to degrade environmental pollutants and describes the biodegradation pathways of some of the emerging environmental contaminants. Some Fusarium species use metabolic strategies enabling them to efficiently mineralize high concentrations of toxic environmental pollutants. These fungi can degrade hydrocarbons, pesticides, herbicides, dyes, pharmaceutical compounds, explosives, plastics, and plastic additives, among other pollutants, and possess high metal biosorption capabilities. According to data from consulted reports, Fusarium strains showed a percentage of biodegradation of a variety of contaminants ranging between 30 % and 100 % for different tested concentrations (from 1 mg to 10 g/L) in a time range between 10 h and 90 d. Enzymes such as esterase, cutinase, laccase, lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase, dehydrogenase, lipase, dioxygenase, and phosphoesterase were detected during the pollutant biodegradation process. Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, and Fusarium culmorum are the most studied species of this genus. Owing to their metabolic versatility, these fungal species and their enzymes represent promising tools for bioremediation applications to mitigate the adverse effects of environmental pollution.